Shillong, July 6: Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) Executive Member in-charge of Land Powell Sohkhlet on Monday clarified that the Council has no intention of taking away the powers and authority of the Himas, Raids and villages through the proposed amendments to the land law.
Speaking to reporters, Sohkhlet said the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Regulation and Administration of Land) (Amendment) Bill, 2026 has been introduced under the provisions of the Sixth Schedule with the objective of regulating the use of Raid land and preventing the large-scale transfer of such land to private individuals.
He said the Council’s intention is to safeguard community-owned land from being alienated to private parties, a trend which, according to him, has deprived many indigenous people of land even for constructing their own homes.
Explaining the proposed amendment, Sohkhlet said the decision to remove the word “consultation” from the Principal Act was taken because consulting every Hima and village often takes considerable time, while, in the meantime, hundreds of acres of Raid land continue to be transferred to private individuals.
Referring to a recent visit by leaders of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) to Domiasiat, Sohkhlet expressed concern over the possibility of uranium-bearing land being acquired by private individuals. “It would be alarming if hundreds of acres of land containing uranium resources were to end up in private hands,” he said.
The Executive Member urged Himas, Raids and village authorities to ensure that any proposal to allot Raid land for commercial purposes, including hotels and homestays, should first be approved through meetings of the Dorbar Shnong, Dorbar Raid and Dorbar Hima to ensure transparency and avoid public misunderstanding.
Sohkhlet further stated that the absence of clear procedures governing the allotment of Raid land has created controversies in places such as Raid Tynring in East Khasi Hills district and Raid Marwet in Ri Bhoi district, where allegations of large-scale transfer of community land to private individuals have prompted questions over the role of the District Council.
He maintained that the proposed amendment is aimed at strengthening the protection of community land and ensuring its proper administration rather than weakening the traditional institutions of the Khasi Hills.
